Football preps for matchup with Warriors

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University football team returns to Joe Quintal Field as it hosts conference foe Midland University in Great Plains Athletic Conference play on Saturday after last week's cancellation which has been rescheduled for Saturday, November 21. Coming off a big road victory two weeks ago, DWU aims to keep the momentum rolling.

 Eyes of the Tigers

 Dakota Wesleyan notched its first win of the 2020 season knocking off Doane University, 29-26 in Crete, Neb., on the first weekend in October as the game ended in dramatic fashion. The road win gave head coach Ross Cimpl his 50^th career victory while senior Spencer Neugebauer (Mitchell, S.D.) recorded a big performance, ultimately surpassing 2,000 receiving yards in his illustrious career.

 The Tigers used a pair of touchdown passes by Zachary Lester (Fairbanks, Alaska) along with a key interception by Adam DeJong (Watertown, S.D.) to secure a 14-13 lead over Doane at halftime. Lester connected with Daniel Libolt (Chambers, Neb.) and Neugebauer from 25 and 44 yards, respectively.

 While Lester and company remained on the attack in the second half, it was the DWU defense securing the game late for the road victory. Lester found Neugebauer from 13 yards away for his third touchdown pass of the game, while Jamin Arend (Emery, S.D.) took a handoff 23 yards to retake the lead, 29-26 late in the contest.

 With the three-point lead, back-to-back interceptions by the Blue and Gray denied any comeback by Doane. Jacob Zamora (Sylmar, Calif.) stepped in front of a pass deep in enemy territory to secure the turnover followed by a Joshua Gary (Sioux Falls, S.D.) interception on the final possession to run out the clock.

 The DWU defensive unit was led by Samuel Kretschmar (Huron, S.D.) and Tziah Owens (Brooklyn, N.Y.) combining for 20 tackles while Max Schoenfelder (Mitchell, S.D.) notched 1.5 tackles for loss.

 Offensively, both Lester and Neugebauer paced the Tigers connecting on 12 attempts for 139 yards and two scores. Lastly, Arend led the rushing attack with nine carries for 43 yards and one score as the offense totaled 282 yards of total offense.

 Beyond the Stripes

 Dakota Wesleyan trails 15-18 in the all-time series, however, DWU won six straight games in the rivalry from 2012 to 2017.

 In week eight of 2019, Dakota Wesleyan traveled to Fremont, Neb., seeking its first conference victory of the year. The Tigers were outpaced by a score of 52-27 after heading into the locker room with the score tied at 21.

 Offensively, DWU used two rushing touchdowns by Lester along with a 59-yard touchdown reception by Neugebauer to keep the game knotted at the intermission. However, the second half saw the Tigers score just six points as Zach Gors (Tea, S.D.) recorded the third Dakota Wesleyan interception of the game returning it for a touchdown.

 Keeping it Cimpl

 Coach Ross Cimpl enters his ninth season at the helm for the Tigers where he currently resides as the second winningest coach all-time. He currently boasts an overall record of 50-41 while becoming just the second coach in program history to amass 50-career victories. Lastly, Cimpl holds a 6-2 record versus Midland and is 3-0 when the Warriors travel to Mitchell.

 The opposing sideline will feature head coach Jeff Jamrog who enters his fifth season with the Warriors, after taking over the program in 2016. Jamrog has accumulated 27 victories during his stint in Fremont as part of four-consecutive winning seasons including six straight to finish the 2019 campaign.

 Stocking the Hunt

 Midland enters the week six matchup with a 2-2 overall record and back-to-back victories while outscoring its opponents 96-3 during the stretch. The Warriors held Hastings scoreless in Fremont a week ago clobbering the Broncos 43-0. Two weeks ago, Midland made quick work of Briar Cliff in Sioux City, Iowa trouncing the Chargers 56-3.

 The Midland passing attack currently sits ninth nationally averaging 261.5 passing yards per game. Junior quarterback River Walker has been dynamic thus far for the Warriors accumulating 938 total yards of offense along with 11 touchdowns.

 Meanwhile, the Warriors are stout on the defensive front ranking 12^th nationally in scoring defense per game surrendering just under 17 points a contest. With a plethora of experience and leadership at the linebacker position, senior Zach Acamo has led the charge notching 37 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss.